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The victim of a recent two-alarm fire at 288 Church St. may have been living without gas and electricity for months, neighbors say, and fire officials believe the blaze was accelerated by the gas heater, oil lamps and candles she was using.
While the exact cause is uncertain, the heating and lighting she used in the house definitely contributed, the fire department says. One neighbor recalled hearing explosions and saw a window in the house blow out when the fire erupted.
The fire broke out shortly after 6 p.m. on Feb. 11. Firefighters controlled the blaze within minutes of arrival, but everything in the house — the front unit of a four-plex — was destroyed. Fire spokesperson Jaime Garrett said she could not release the name of the victim, but neighbors said she was about 50 years old and Filipino. She was taken to a local hospital for her injuries.
Neighbors said the victim was a member of Shoreline Community Church across the street, and that she liked to take her small white dog for walks. The dog died in the fire from smoke inhalation, a neighbor said.
The Mountain View Fire Department would not confirm whether the woman’s gas and electricity had been turned off, but in a press release the department is urging those dealing with financial crisis to call 211 or contact the Community Services Agency to get help before tragedy happens. The CSA can be reached at (650) 968-0836.
